HB 391 Summary

• Authorizes wine manufacturers and licensed wine sellers to obtain a "direct wine shipper's permit" from the Department of Revenue to sell and ship wine directly to Mississippi residents without going through the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.

• Requires direct wine shippers to pay a $100 annual permit fee, levy a 34% tax on all wine sales and shipments, and maintain records for at least three years; limits sales to 24 nine-liter cases per individual annually.

• Prohibits direct wine shippers from shipping to dry counties, selling light wine or beer, and requires purchasers to be at least 21 years old with wine used only for personal consumption and not resale.

• Deposits a portion of direct wine shipper tax revenue (equivalent to 3% markup) into the "Mental Health Programs Fund" while remaining tax revenue goes to the General Fund.

• Exempts direct wine shipper applicants from standard permit requirements including newspaper publication notices, ownership disclosure statements, and fingerprint background checks.